Colour
Also known as: color, colouring, coloring, decorative pigment, surface colorant
The umbrella label hides which colourant was actually used, so the consumer cannot tell whether it is a benign natural pigment or one of the 'Southampton six' azo dyes that EU law requires to carry a 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' warning. Risk depends entirely on which specific colour is behind the label.
What it is
Generic ingredient term covering any of dozens of permitted colour additives — synthetic dyes (e.g. tartrazine E102, allura red E129, brilliant blue E133), lakes, and natural colourants (carmine, beetroot, paprika extract, caramel, etc.) — without disclosing the specific identity.
Adds or restores colour to compensate for processing/storage losses, enhance visual appeal, or signal flavor.
What regulators actually say
"The labelling of food containing the food colours listed in Annex V to this Regulation shall include the additional information... 'name or E number of the colour(s): may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'."
"A color additive... shall be declared by its common or usual name on labels."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
FDA requires the specific certified colour to be named (e.g. 'FD&C Yellow 5'); generic 'colour' is not permitted in the US for certified colors
European Union — EFSA
EU permits the category descriptor 'colour' followed by E-number under Regulation 1169/2011
Scan it before you buy it
Get Ube on iOS or Android — point at any barcode, see what's actually in there.
Get the app